Today’s special session — which comes at the end of a month-long debate between Christie and the Democratic majority of lawmakers over a $32 billion budget proposal — looks set to focus Republicans’ fierce criticism on why state Democrats want to wait to enact tax relief.

Christie wants a cut in the income-tax rate effective this year. But Democrats in the legislature last week sent Christie a budget that abided by Christie’s contested revenue projections for the 2013 fiscal year but denied him the immediate income-tax cut he seeks. They offered instead a credit against income-tax bills but measured against a household’s property-tax burden. They also angered Republicans by saying that credit would only be authorized if state revenue projections met the estimates issued by Christie and his treasury.

For complete background on the competing tax proposals, click here for the weekend round-up of Christie budget action what lawmakers are still fighting about.

The homestretch of the budget fight delivered many of Christie’s priorities: In a sit-down interview with The Record published Sunday, Christie said he got two out of three: No tax-cut, but an expansion of drug courts and a highly controversial merger of higher-education medical facilities including Rutgers and UMDNJ, designed to create research universities in all parts of the state.

According to his public schedule, Christie is set to deliver his ‘remarks’ to a quorum of senators and assembly members at 1 p.m., in the Assembly chamber. The Record’s staff in the State House will be covering the special session live here. Check back for updates.

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The Bloggers

Melissa Hayes, who has worked at The Record since 2010, covers Gov. Chris Christie and politics for the State House Bureau. Follow her on Twitter at @Record_Melissa. View all of her posts

Herb Jackson is the Washington correspondent for The Record, covering North Jersey issues on the Potomac, including the activities of the congressional delegation and federal policies that affect the region. Follow him on Twitter @Record_DC.View all of his posts.

John Reitmeyer, a reporter in the State House Bureau since 2007, focuses on taxes, state budgets, campaign finance and government ethics. Follow him on Twitter @JohnReitmeyer. View all of his posts

Charles Stile is the political columnist for The Record. He is a former State House Bureau chief at The Record and has covered politics and government in New Jersey for more than two decades. Follow him on Twitter @PoliticalStile. View all of his posts